January 22, 2026
Launching among the red rocks of St. George, Builder Day aims to connect and expand Southern Utah’s startup network — fostering connections and resources to help founders thrive. The flagship event will bring together some of the state’s top business leaders to provide practical insights, meaningful connections, potential funding, and fresh perspectives on venture capital.
Held on Jan. 27, the Builder Day offers a packed program of workshops, breakout sessions, and insightful panel discussions. Morning offerings range from a fireside chat with Joe Atkin, CIO of PV3 Enterprises, to an exciting hands-on customer discovery workshop led by Nicole Toomey Davis, President and CEO of Enclavix.
Afternoon sessions kick off with David Mink, CEO of Avalaunch Media, discussing how to Get Reconized in a World of AI Marketing. On the funding side, five experienced builders will participate in a panel discussion on how to raise venture capital in 2026.
Starting right at 3, the Get Started: Business Idea Challenge will be making its long-awaited return. Previously held via Zoom, the pitch competition will now award up to $10,000, with $7,500 to the first-place judge vote winner and $2,500 to the popular vote winner.
Two insightful learning sessions will follow the competition, focusing on how to use AI to optimize your workload and alternative funding options, such as grants, angel investors, and debt financing.
The event will culminate during Build Night, when attendees will be guided through the creation of an AI agent, with an award going to the team that builds the best product in 3 hours.
Backed by the state, Builder Day strives to bolster Utah’s entrepreneurship communities. For those who can’t make it to St. George, this brand-new series of events will alternate between locations around the state, with the next being held in Logan at end of March.
Until then, consider subscribing to the Startup State newsletter to be kept up to date, or visit the SSI resource page to find more tools, programs, and communities to move your business forward.
The information in this article is current as of the publishing date and is intended for informational purposes only. This article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal, tax, or business advice. Any resources and organizations mentioned, unless an entity of or a partner of the state of Utah, are not formally endorsed by the Startup State Initiative or state of Utah.